Extreme heat is emerging as one of India’s most significant climate risks, with impacts that extend beyond just rising temperatures. Heat affects health, in turn affects labour productivity, as well as agriculture, energy systems, and water security, all the while increasing the cost of everyday life. 

As hotter conditions become more frequent and prolonged, the pressure on households, workers, public services and mainly, natural resources will only continue to grow.

Water is among the most visible casualties of extreme heat, as per recent trends.^[1] Higher temperatures increase water demand, it accelerates evaporation, strains ground water reserves. This is deepening water shortages in cities and villages alike. This has meant, especially in cities without a reliable piped supply of water,^[2] a greater dependence on expensive water tankers, longer hours spent collecting water, as well as a rise in financial burdens.

In this Fact Sheet, QoC brings together key data on the human and economic costs of heat, with a particular focus on its links to water stress and access.

First Published by Question of Cities on 12 June, 2026.